A new move is under way to potentially develop a derelict site in Gatehouse for social housing.
South of Scotland Community Housing is bringing forward the plan in cooperation with Gatehouse Development Initiative.
The regional body is seeking views from anyone living locally – or with a family or work connection to the area – with “a potential interest” in renting a one or two-bedroom home.
The online questionnaire follows an earlier housing needs and demands survey from 2021 which highlighted strong local need for affordable homes.
Gatehouse Development Initiative secretary Ken Smyth said the vacant land – a former garage site across from the war memorial – was the only realistic area left in the town which could help alleviate the local housing shortage.
He told the News: “It is a huge shame that youngsters can’t buy or rent houses here.
“South of Scotland Community Housing have let us know that they have already got quite a number of expressions of interest.
“That in itself demonstrates a demand for housing – and if we can make it work it would be valuable not just to Gatehouse but to other communities.”
Mike Staples, chief executive at South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), said: “We’re really excited to be working with GDI and other partners to appraise options for affordable housing on the former garage site.
“We understand there is an acute housing need in Gatehouse and that this situation has exacerbated since we undertook the housing survey in 2021.
“Community-led housing has the potential to deliver high-quality, safe, secure, low-energy homes that are affordable to run and can be allocated to those who live and work locally.”
The homes plan follows the loss of another site in the town for social housing, at Riverbank, where 12 to 14 units had been envisaged.
The land was on the brink of being purchased by Loreburn but negotiations collapsed at the last minute and the site was sold to a private developer.
Now many locally view the old garage plot as perhaps the last and only chance for a community-led housing project in the town.
Mr Smyth said: “It would be nice to drive this locally and it is dependent on the land being available.
“It’s fair to say things at the site have been like that for some time.
“South of Scotland Community Housing have been involved in quite a lot of similar projects.
“This kind of thing is what they are good at.
“There is not really any other space available in Gatehouse.
“If we call pull this off it would be great.”
He added: “Clearly there’s high demand for social housing here.
“If we could build six or seven units they would remain in community ownership and be houses for rent.
“It’s an attractive concept and I think the local community has the scope to do this.”
Anyone with an interest in renting a home locally can access the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GatehouseCommunityHousing
Alternatively, pick up a copy of the flyer with instructions for obtaining a paper version at The Gatehouse Store or Gatehouse Library.
